Web lock and tightener

ABSTRACT

A pivotally mounted strap grip including a pair of laterally spaced crossbars about which the free end of a strap is passed and reversely bent. The grip pivots between a first strap loading position and a second outwardly swung position wherein the grip mounted strap is bent on itself in a strap locking position relative to the grip. A spring-biased keeper releasably engages the pivoted grip for a retention thereof in the second position.

United States Patent 1191 Sohn et a1.

[ 1 Feb.4, 1975 WEB LOCK AND TlGl-ITENER [76] Inventors: Olaf C. Sohn,755 Lincoln Ave.;

Adolph M. Sohn, 619 Second Ave., both of Zumbrota, Minn. 55992 22 Filed:Nov. 19, 1973 211 App]. No.: 416,842

[52] US. Cl 24/68 E [51] Int. Cl. A43c 11/00 {58] Field of Search280/35; 24/170, 193, 71 A, 24/71 R, 71.3, 71 SB, 71.], 71 TD, 71 ST, 68

R, 68 SB, 68 E, 68 CD [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS478,120 7/1892 Mead 24/71 ST 696,574 4/1902 Laros 24/71 ST Venditty24/71 ST 2,997,761 3/1961 Davis 24/68 E FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS546,103 6/1942 Great Britain 24/68 E Primary Examiner-Donald A. GriffinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57]ABSTRACT A pivotally mounted strap grip including a pair of laterallyspaced crossbars about which the free end of a strap is passed andreversely bent. The grip pivots between a first strap loading positionand a second outwardly swung position wherein the grip mounted strap isbent on itself in a strap locking position relative to the grip. Aspring-biased keeper releasably engages the pivoted grip for a retentionthereof in the second position.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 WEB LOCK AND TIGHTENER The presentinvention generally relates to a tightener and lock means for strapends, and is more particularly concerned with such a device forutilization in securing and properly tightening load retaining straps ofthe type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,258,8l9.

Among the objects of the invention are the provision of a strap or weblock which effects a positive retention of the strap end, automaticallytensions the strap, and positively locks the tensioned strap untilmanually released.

in conjunction with the above objects, it is also significant that thedevice of the present invention be so constructed as to enable a rapidand relatively simple engagement of a strap end therewith.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a device whereinsubstantially any desired degree of tension can be introduced into thestrap with the strap being smoothly engaged with the combined lock andtightener in a manner which provides little or no wear on the strap anddoes not require any damaging piercing of the strap.

in addition, when used in the environment of the above noted patent, itis particularly significant that no portion of the metal strap grip andkeeper is exposed to an article being carried.

Basically, the objects of the invention are achieved by pivotallymounting a strap grip to a support member for swinging movement betweena first position wherein the strap is threaded over and under a pair oflaterally spaced crossbars and a second position wherein the crossbarseffect a reverse bending of the bar threaded strap and a gripped lockingthereof. in the second position, a spring-loaded keeper automaticallyengages the grip for a positive locking thereof in the second belttensioning position until the keeper is manually released.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the web lock and tightener of thepresent invention with the web or strap being initially introducedthereto;

FIGS. 2 and 3 sequentially illustrate the steps in mounting and lockingthe strap;

FIG. 4 is an elevational detail illustrating the general operation andrelease of the grip keeper; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the device taken substantially on a planepassing along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, it will be noted thatthe web lock and tightener consists basically of two units, the web orstrap grip l0 and the keeper 12.

The grip 12 includes a pair of elongated laterally spaced side bars 14interconnected at their outer end by a transverse end bar 16 and attheir inner end by an elongated transverse pivot bar 18, the opposedends of which project beyond the two side bars 14 and are rotatablyreceived within a pair of eye screws 20. The eye screws 20 are in turnaffixed to a support post or rail 22. Finally, the grip includes acrossbar 24 parallel to and laterally spaced from the pivot bar 18. Thecrossbar 24 is orientated substantially closer to the pivot bar 18 thanthe end bar 16 and is of course rigidly affixed to the two side bars 14.

As will be appreciated from H08. 1 and 3, the grip 10 is mounted forpivotal movement between a first inwardly directed loading positionextending along or toward a strap 26 to be gripped thereby and a secondoutwardly swung position orientated at approximately to the firstposition.

With reference sequentially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted thatthe strap 26 is engaged with the grip by initially passing the end ofthe strap 26 under the end bar 16, over the crossbar 24, over and thenreversely under the pivot bar 18 and finally over the crossbar 24 andunder the overlying portion of the strap 26. The extreme end portion ofthe strap 26 is then pulled as required so as to achieve approximatelythe desired tension or tightening of the strap 26. Once this iseffected, the grip 10 is swung or pivoted to its outwardly directedposition as in FIG. 3 so as to effect a final tensioning of the strap 26and a reverse bending of the overlying portions of the strap 26 into apositive gripped or locked position. The reverse bend defined in theoverlying strap portions as in FIG. 3 precludes any slippage of thestrap as will be readily appreciated in that any tensioning of the mainportion of the strap merely effects a greater clamping of the underlyingportion thereof as it passes over the crossbar 24.

The keeper 12 is significant in that it effects a positive means forreleasably retaining the grip 10 in the second position thereof. Thiskeeper 12 includes a plate-like body 28 pivotally mounted on the support22 by an appropriate mounting pivot pin, screw or bolt 30 with thekeeper l2 normally being orientated on a face of the support 22 at rightangles to and outward of the face of the support which mounts the grip10. The keeper body 28 includes an outwardly projecting hook or hookportion 32 which extends outwardly of the support 22 into the path ofthe pivotally swinging grip 10 as it moves to its extreme secondposition. The hook is fully exposed beyond the support and includes acamming face 34 which is engaged by the upper side bar 14 of the gripwhereby a continued swinging of the grip causes an upward camming of thekeeper 12 until the side bar 14 moves beyond the face 34, at which pointthe hook 32 drops over and locks to this upper rail or bar 14.

In order to effect a positive engagement with the grip, the keeper 12 isspring-biased with a torsion spring 36 wound about the mounting pin 30and having a first end engaging the body 28 immediately inward of thebook 32 and the second end fixed to the support 22, as by a pin 38. Thetorsion spring 36 is so orientated as to effect a downward biasing ofthe outwardly projecting hook or hook portion 32 with the swingingmovement of the grip l0 effecting, upon engagement with the camming face34, an upward forcing of the keeper 12 until such time as the upper bar14 passes beyond the face 34 at which time the spring forcibly bringsthe hooked portion 32 downward into locking engagement with this bar 14.

It will be noted that the keeper is provided with limit meanscontrolling the movement thereof. This limit means is formed by a cutoutor notch 40 within the upper edge portion of the body 28. The spring andmounting pin 38 is orientated within this recess with the opposed sidesof the recess being so orientated relative to each other and thereceived pin 38 as to define limits to the pivotal swinging of thekeeper 12 so as to always retain the keeper for automatic engagementwith the grip l notwithstanding the constant biasing force of thetorsion spring 36.

With reference to FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that the hook or hookedportion 32 includes a slightly elongated head or outer end whereby amanual manipulation thereof so as to simply and rapidly release the gripis provided for.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a unique strap grippingand tightening device has been defined. The device provides for a slipfree gripping of a strap end and means for a substantial tensioning ofthe gripped strap through merely a pivotal swinging of a strap engagedmember between a first strap loading position and a second lockedposition. Incidentally, it will be noted that the grip is relativelylong with the end bar 16 located substantially outward of the twostrap-engaging bars 18 and 24. This length facilitates and simplifies amanual grasping and pivoting of the grip 10 for movement thereof betweenthe loading and locked position Once the device is locked and the straptensioned, accidental release thereof is specifically precluded withrelease of the device only being effected by a positive manualmanipulation of the keeper. As such, the web lock and tightener findsparticular utility in heavy article carriers as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 2,258,819.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A web lock and tightener for a strap length comprising a strap grip,a keeper, means pivotally mounting said grip for movement between afirst inwardly directed loading position along a strap to be grippedthereby and a second outwardly directed position, said grip includingfirst and second laterally spaced parallel bars, said first bar beinglocated inward of said second bar in the first position of the grip forengagement of a strap over the first bar, around the second bar and backover the first bar, said second bar, upon movement of the grip to thesecond position, moving outward of the first bar in a manner so as toeffect a bending of a bar overlying strap on itself and a correspondingclamping of the strap. said keeper being releasably engageable with saidgrip in the second position thereof for a retention ofthe grip in saidsecond position. resilient spring means biasing said keeper towardengagement with the grip in the second position thereof, said keeperbeing manuually releasable from engagement with the grip, a cam surfaceon said keeper directed toward said grip and orientated for engagementby said grip upon movement ofthe grip from the first to second positionthereof for an upward camming of the keeper into retaining engagementwith said grip, said grip also including an elongated side barinterconnecting said first and second bars, and a rigid support, saidsupport including a pair of generally right angularly related faces,said grip being pivotally mounted to one face of said support in amanner so as to, in the second position of the grip, project beyond saidsecond face, said keeper being mounted on the second face of the support and projecting beyond the first face thereof into the path ofmovement of the grip from the first to the second position thereof.

2. The device of claim 1 including a second side bar parallel to andlaterally spaced from the first side bar, said second side bar alsointerconnecting said first and second bars, said side bars projectingoutwardly beyond said first bar and an end bar paralleling said firstbar and interconnecting the outer ends of said side bars.

3. The device of claim 2 including limit means for limiting movement ofthe keeper between a first grip engaging position and a second gripreleasing position.

2. The device of claim 1 including a second side bar parallel to andlaterally spaced from the first side bar, said second side bar alsointerconnecting said first and second bars, said side bars projectingoutwardly beyond said first bar and an end bar paralleling said firstbar and interconnecting the outer ends of said side bars.
 3. The deviceof claim 2 including limit means for limiting movement of the keeperbetween a first grip engaging position and a second grip Releasingposition.